PM Modi Asserts ‘No Foreign Interference’ In Parliament Ahead Of Budget Session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Parliament today as the Budget session commenced. Several Union ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, also arrived for the session.

The Parliament’s Budget session began with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both Houses at around 11 AM. Following the President’s address, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey, ahead of the Union Budget presentation on Saturday. The Economic Survey will be presented in the Lok Sabha at noon and in the Rajya Sabha at 2 PM.

‘No Foreign Interference’, Says PM Modi Ahead Of Budget Session

During his customary address ahead of the Budget Session, the PM asserted, “You must have noticed… from 2014 till today, this is the first Parliament session before which no ‘videshi chingari’ (foreign interference) has been there. There has been no attempt to ignite fire from a foreign country. I have been noticing this since last 10 years that people were sitting ready to do mischief before every session and many in our country leave no stone unturned to fan these sparks.”

Key Legislative Agenda For Parliament’s Budget Session

The Budget session of Parliament is set to witness the presentation of important bills and discussions on financial matters. Key legislation is expected to address a variety of sectors, ranging from banking regulations to maritime laws.

The session will also focus on approving the Demands for Grants and other essential financial matters.

Economic Survey & Budget Proposals

The Economic Survey, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the supervision of the Chief Economic Adviser, will provide an overview of the economy, key indicators for 2024-25, and the outlook for the next fiscal year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey in Parliament ahead of the Union Budget presentation on February 1

The first part of the Budget session will continue until February 13. After a brief recess, the two Houses will reconvene on March 10, with the session concluding on April 4.

Key Bills for Discussion

A series of significant bills are likely to be debated during this session, addressing a range of policy areas:

• Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Aimed at strengthening banking regulations and oversight.
• Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Focuses on improving operational efficiency in Indian Railways.
• Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Seeks to enhance disaster response mechanisms nationwide.
• Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024: These bills aim to bring reforms to the management of religious endowments.
• Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024: Proposes updates to laws surrounding oil exploration and extraction.
• Boilers Bill, 2024: Introduces new safety and operational standards for industrial boilers.
• Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Bill, 2024: Addresses the reallocation of assembly constituencies for better representation of scheduled tribes in Goa.
• Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024: These bills will modernize maritime regulations in India.

Also Read: PM Modi Expresses Grief Over Washington DC Plane-Helicopter Collision